Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 3-6 Experience)
Indet vine, height is about 5.5-6 ft (1.6-1.8 m), mid-season. Large fruits starting from 10.5 oz (300 g), extremely meaty, the flavor is rich and sweet.
Mashenka, good afternoon! What is the yield like on the Lion? Such a gorgeous stunner, I am literally wiping up my drool over here 😆
Rea Caddi said:
Mashenka, good afternoon! What is the yield like on the Lion? Such a gorgeous stunner…
It is hard to judge fairly given the kind of summer weather we had, but it still managed to set 5 full trusses and every single fruit was at least 10.5 oz (300 g).
I grew the Lion last summer. Huge yielder and holds up really well in storage. The taste is sweet, though the flesh was just a little on the dry side for me. Really loved it overall, kicking myself for not planting it again this year.
I grew Lev Minusinskiy in a poly tunnel in 2022. Heavy yielder, the fruits are massive and heavily ribbed. Mine turned out very meaty and quite juicy.
Grew this one this year. It is a very productive variety, fruits have deep ribbing, and when you cut them open there are some hollow pockets inside. Flavor has a nice sweetness to it. Perfect for slicing and fresh salads.
Edited November 20, 2023 by Nadine
Full Summary: Plant, Yield, and Taste
- 🌿 Plant: A mid-season indeterminate vine, typically reaching 5.5-6 feet (1.6-1.8 m) in height. Does very well in poly tunnels and greenhouses.
- 📈 Yield: Extremely reliable. Growers report excellent fruit set (up to 5 full trusses of large fruits) even during poor summer weather.
- 👅 Taste & Appearance: Produces visually stunning, deeply ribbed flat-round beefsteaks averaging 10.5 oz (300 g) and up. The flesh is dense, sweet, and meaty, offering a rich flavor profile. Notably, the seed cavities can sometimes have hollow pockets inside, making the slices look spectacular on a salad platter. It also boasts an unusually good shelf life for an heirloom.
- 🌎 Who Reviewed It: Grown successfully across multiple demanding climates, from Siberia (Novosibirsk) to Moscow and Volgograd (USDA Zones 3-6).
The name Lev Minusinskiy translates to “Minusinsk Lion.” Minusinsk is a city in Siberia famous for its unique microclimate and its annual Tomato Festival. Varieties bearing the “Minusinsk” name are highly prized in gardening culture. They are renowned for being incredibly rugged, cold-tolerant, and capable of producing absolutely massive, delicious fruits despite the short Siberian summers.
